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The militaries of several countries use computer games and simulations to both teach and coach soldiers and officers in tasks and thought processes related to their missions and specializations.

This method is moving (little by little) into the corporate world as well, and one of the places where it's making the largest inroads is in the dominion of executive training.

From the perspective of training fresh managers in your own organization, computer games and board games can be used to huge effect, however, there are some dangers. First, make certain that you're conscious of what objective you're aiming for - education or training? Educational games center on one nested set of decisions and lean to remain fairly theoretical.

A high-quality didactic game - focused on project management training for instance - should permit the players to investigate the decision space reflected by that kind of game.

A training simulation is designed to determine how well a student is getting familiar and re-enacting doctrines and training techniques.

Though a first person shooting game, like Doom or Counter Strike is no substitute for rifle training for a soldier, it's an outstanding instrument to assess if soldiers have learned about movement, communications, and coordinated actions in an aggressive situation, as the same things that will keep you breathing in the field will keep you breathing in the game - moving from cover to concealment, mobilized over watch, and similar concepts.

Education isn't just regurgitation of principles and training, it's acquainting of the decision creation processes.

For exedcutives (and officers in the armed forces) there needs to be stress on education as well as training.

A first-rate officer should be familiar with the decision creation process of the layer of management that reports to him, and for two levels higher than him.

The same applies to a executive in most organizations.

Furthermore, an officer (or manager) ought to be able to evaluate challenges to his line of actions, be conscious of resources available to him, and with initiative, be capable to use those resources without compromising the tactics of those higher than him.

When taking lessons from computer games, center on the decision creation loops, and focus on concepts.

While trying to turn computer games into planned schooling for your employees, keep in mind that games are intended to be fun.

Games that aren't fun tend to get unconstructive feedback from the players, and the teaching imparted by them don't stick.

Center on how the center concepts of the game will help your new executives work in your company, but let them take pleasure in what they're doing - people find out more, and absorb the instructions better, when they're having enjoyment.

So, the next time you're caught playing a computer game in the workplace, maybe you can defend it as professional improvement.

Read full article Using computer and other games to increase your product management skills